OTHER CHRISTIAN SIGNS

These are six symbols for the Holy Trinity. In some of them the Chrismon
combines with the triangle, the sign of God the father, In the last sign, the
three circles represent the three Unities, each of which is self-contained and
complete in itself. A detailed analysis of each sign is hardly possible. The
next sign is a simple symbol of the trinity, and presents no difficulty to the
modern mind. In this figure the three Persons of the Trinity are represented
in the simplest signs that can be used. A cruciform monogram composed of
the Greek words for light (Phos) and life (Zoe). Amate! Love! Mother of
God. In Greek: Meter Theou, here shortened to Mer Thu. The strokes
above this monogram denote holiness, as in the conventional symbol of the
halo. The monogram of Mary. A charming explanation of this Cross,
sometimes called the anchor Cross, is as follows: Christ, symbolized by the
Cross, born of Mary, symbolized by the crescent Moon. The seven-
branched candlestick, the symbol of the Old Testament. This is another
early sign for the Trinity. Each circle has its own centre and is therefore
complete in itself; at the same time it has a large section in common with
each of the other circles, though only the small central shield is covered by
all three circles. In this shield they possess a new central point, the real
heart of the whole figure. The symbol of faith, the patient expectation of
salvation coming from above. The symbol of the Universe. The dark centre
is the Orb of Earth and Water, the old conception of the World, surrounded
by the inner ring of the aerial ocean, and the outer ring of the empyrean.
Two signs used to exorcise evil spirits. In the case of both these signs, as
with the pentagram and the octogram, it is worthy of note that they call for
a certain dexterity, and that a clumsy person would be unable to draw them.
This is a simplified representation of the Orb of the World. The old
conception of the Earth was that it is divided thus. The centre of the World
was Jerusalem, the place where salvation came to mankind. The upper half
of the Orb is Asia. The vertical line represents the Mediterranean Sea, on
the right and left of which lie Africa and Europe respectively. In Early
Christian Art the Lord was shown carrying this Orb in his hand; in later
times this was altered to a ball with a Cross upon it. Another sign, also
representing the World, which possibly belongs to the same category. It is
based upon the square, and admits of many interpretations.